LSS and RHS consultation 2012

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fed up
Posts: 160
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:55 pm

LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by fed up »

LSS's consultation for 2012 admissions in now on their website. It is interesting that it differs from the RHS consultation in that they have not reversed the order in which candidates will be accepted from within and without East Warks, which I think means that a girl from the priority circle but outside E Warks now would have a better chance of gaining a GS place than a boy living in the same place? Have I interpreted that correctly and is that in line with Equal Opportunites if it is the case?
Rugbymum
Posts: 349
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:05 pm

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by Rugbymum »

Probably not in line with Equal Opps so I would watch this space...
Learning Fast
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:16 pm

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by Learning Fast »

Oooh, you're probably right. Dont they have to go through the fiction of only offering the same number of places as the girls school for that very reason, then let the extra places they do have fill with the pupils who appeal. I wouldnt be surprised if that gets challenged!
DarkEnergy
Posts: 209
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:06 pm
Location: Rugby

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by DarkEnergy »

Just a thought... If you have a bright DD, then would be better sending DD to Princethorpe if you can afford the fees. LSS GCSE's and CVA are excellent (top in country last year). RHS has slightly lower GCSE's and much lower CVA. Princethorpe has CVA figures better than RHS... Better school for our DD's? Maybe.

Has anyone thought of consulting RHS about their poor CVA statistics?
DE
:?:
DEATH rides a white horse named Binky
Rugbymum
Posts: 349
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:05 pm

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by Rugbymum »

DE - do you know how CVA is measured? I have already said elsewhere on this forum that I am a bit confused about what this actually means and whether its a meaningful measurement :?
mitasol
Posts: 2756
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:59 am

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by mitasol »

You can find lots of information regarding CVA on the DfE website. CVA progresses through KS1 to post 16 but the calculations are different at each stage.

Some of the limitations of CVA, particularly in the context of GS are listed here and here. The GSHA have also been in discussion with the DfE regarding their concerns with CVA methodology.

The second link is a more detailed argument from Jan 09. Unfortunately several of links to the citied reports are now broken. If you're enthusiastic you can probably track them down through google. :D
mike1880
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:51 pm

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by mike1880 »

You have to take GCSE results with a lot more than a pinch of salt. This is the average number of GCSEs/equivalents taken by pupils at the Warks selectives in the last few years:

Order: AGS / Ashln / KES / LSS / RHS / SGSG
2004: 11.3 / 10 / 11.2 / 10.7 / 10.5 / 10.6
2005: 11.2 / 10.2 / 10.2 / 12 / 10.6 / 10.1
2006: 11 / 10.4 / 10.6 / 12.7 / 10.6 / 9.7
2007: 11.1 / 10.8 / 10.6 / 13.4 / 10.5 / 10.4
2008: 11.2 / 11.9 / 10.6 / 15.4 / 10.8 / 10.5
2009: 11.1 / 11.6 / 10.9 / 14.5 / 11 / 11.5
2010: 11.5 / 11.2 / 11 / 15.2 / 10.3 / 11.8

The GCSE league tables only tell you that LSS pupils take a staggering number of GCSEs, they doesn't really tell you anything about the quality of their results.

Quite apart from the issues with CVA that mitasol has pointed to, given that CVA is calculated from pupils' 8 best GCSE results, it can be imagined that a school that throws 15 GCSEs at its pupils is likely to have a lot more leeway for choosing eight good results than one that only inflicts 10 or 11 - especially if you suspect that many of the extra 4 or 5 are likely to be less demanding in the first place. There are lies, damned lies and educational statistics...

Mike
Rugbymum
Posts: 349
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:05 pm

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by Rugbymum »

Thanks Mitasol for the explanation re CVA scores.

I am already aware that the number of GCSEs in league tables can include other qualifications such as ASs and each AS are worth a few GCSEs. I know that many other schools have a similar system and that like LSS they start GCSEs in year 9, so I am not sure what your point about LSS is? Is it too much too young? :?
mike1880
Posts: 2563
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:51 pm

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by mike1880 »

My point is that when I see something like that I start to have reservations about the school's priorities. No child "needs" 15 GCSEs. It's rarely in the pupils' interests to take exams early (it does impact on results) and it certainly isn't the best way of broadening someone's education. It does, however, have a beneficial impact on the school's league table performance, and I personally would want to make very sure that wasn't a factor in the school's curriculum decisions.

Mike
Sassie'sDad
Posts: 459
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:36 pm
Location: Rugby

Re: LSS and RHS consultation 2012

Post by Sassie'sDad »

Parents should also be aware that indy schools (and Unis) do not rate GCSE much preferring IGCSE which is more rigorous. Also remember RHS still does not allow triple science.
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